Thyroid Hair Loss
Thyroid Hair Loss
Article by Vanessa Vera
If you are suffering from thyroid disease, you may be experiencing an increased loss of hair. And if you are losing hair and are not sure why, you should have your thyroid checked. Hair loss or change in the hair’s texture is one of the most easily detectable symptoms of a thyroid condition.
Some women have reported that a hairstylist was the first to suggest that they get their thyroid checked, due to changes in their hair. Hair loss can be a sign of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. If you are beginning to lose your hair and are frightened or worried, you are not alone. The best thing you can do is to educate yourself about hair loss in general, especially thyroid hair loss.
Thyroid hair loss occurs because hairs become stalled in a dormant stage. Every hair on your head goes through stages of growth and stages of rest, or dormancy. When your thyroid is not functioning properly, this causes a hormonal imbalance, which traps hairs in dormancy. If an individual hair is stuck in that stage for long enough, it simply dies. Dead hair falls out, and the more hairs fall out, the more obvious the loss becomes.
Although hair loss is primarily a cosmetic condition, your doctor should be sympathetic to the emotional distress it can cause. Often, treatment of the thyroid condition can balance hormones and slow or stop the process of hair loss. When you visit the doctor, remember to ask questions and to be involved in the diagnostic process. If you are convinced that your hair loss is a result of a thyroid problem, you should insist that your doctor administers the proper tests. If you are not satisfied with the diagnosis, you may want to get a second opinion.
If you are currently under drug treatment for a thyroid condition and are still losing hair, the drug could be the problem. Synthroid (levothyroxine), a common thyroid drug, has been known to cause hair loss in some patients. Another possibility is that your treatment needs to be increased. You may need a higher dose or an additional drug.
Proper diagnosis and treatment of the thyroid condition are the first steps in combating thyroid hair loss. Once these steps have been achieved, you should take measures towards the growth and strengthening of the hair you have.
Vitamins can often stimulate hair growth and nourish the hair. Lots of people have found vitamin treatments invaluable after hair loss. Especially effective are vitamins B, C, and E. They all strengthen skin, fingernails and hair. You can take them in pill form, and you can often find essential oils containing these vitamins.
When you are trying to re-grow your hair, it is important to be gentle with it. Avoid harsh chemicals. People who are trying to combat hair loss should never dye their hair. You should also try not to put too much heat on the hair. Stay away from curling and straightening irons and blow dryers, as they can rob the hair of its natural moisture. Be careful not to comb and brush the hair too aggressively, and avoid tight ponytails and other hairstyles that put unnecessary stress on the hair.
Thyroid hair loss is understandably distressing, but it is definitely treatable. Remember that it is not your fault, and you do not have to handle it alone. Keep yourself educated and informed, and take the proper steps for diagnosis and treatment.
About the Author
Click here for more about Thyroid Hair Loss.
Click here to learn more about Alopecia Hair Loss.
Vanessa Vera wanted to know everything there was to know about how to stop her own hair from thinning in order to make it stop.
